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Greek Bronze Socketted Spear with Iron Head Greek Bronze Socketted Spear with Iron Head Greek Bronze Socketted Spear with Iron Head
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Details

LOT 1353

Greek Bronze Socketted Spear with Iron Head

12TH-10TH CENTURY B.C.

5 7/8 in. (119 grams total, 15 cm).

With foliate head and short tubular socketted shaft. [No Reserve]

Provenance

Ex German collection, Cologne, 1980-1990s.

Literature

Cf. D'Amato, R., Salimbeti, A., Early Iron Age Greek Warrior, 1100-700 B.C., figs on pp.18-19.

Footnotes

Snodgrass assigns the Athenian iron spearheads to the type A, i.e. spearheads with a leaf-shaped blade, a long socket and a midrib running to the tip. The bronze ones were assigned to typologies C – small, with a leaf-shaped blade (like the present specimen) - and D – with the socket as long as the blade, rounded shoulders and pronounced midrib. Both socket types were beaten round a cylindrical bar, a conservative method to produce bronze sockets even if the head was made of iron.

CONDITION
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LOT 1353

Greek Bronze Socketted Spear with Iron Head

Sold for (Inc. bp): £85

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